The relationship between serum urea levels and dietary nitrogen utilization in young men

• Published in: British journal of nutrition Vol. 32; no. 2; pp. 407 - 411
• Main Authors: Taylor, Yvonne S. M., Scrimshaw, N. S., Young, V. R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01-09-1974
• Subjects: Clinical and Human Nutrition
• ISSN: 0007-1145; 1475-2662
• DOI: 10.1079/BJN19740092

1. Results from metabolic balance studies in young adult men were examined for the relationships between the concentration of serum urea (SUN) and the efficiency of dietary nitrogen utilization. A total of 231 separate balance periods were included in the analysis. Net protein utilization (NPU) was used as an index of dietary protein quality. 2. Protein intake ranged from 0·27–0·73 g/kg body-weight per d in the various experiments. There was a highly significant negative correlation between NPU and urea levels. The relationship was: NPU = 1·23–0·029 × SUN (mmol/l) (r = −0·89). 3. These results are considered in relation to the evaluation of protein quality in adult humans.